Body adjuster for deceased persons



June 14. 1927. l ,632,160

W. G. BARNES v v BODY ADJUSTER -FOR DECEASED PERSONS Filed D80. 11. 1925 Patented June 14, 1927.

v UNITED STATES WILLIAM G. BARNES,"OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

BODY ADJUSTER non DECEASED PERSONS.

application filed December This invention relates to improvements in body adjusters. The primary object of this invention is the provision of an adjuster device, for holding the bodies of deceased persons in proper po-' sition for embalming. j

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved body adjuster adapted for use by undertakers for the purpose of holding the arms and head of the deceased person in proper position with respect to the trunk, until the body becomes rigid. r

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved body adjuster includingan improved adjustable means for arranging the head so that the chin is in proper relation to the body priorto and during the embalmingoperation.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a body adjuster for use by undertakers, including improved adjustable features whereby to properly support the arms and head of deceased persons; the device being adaptable for use-and adjustable to persons of various sizes.

Other ob ects and advantages of 'tlllS 1nvention will be apparentduring the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throiwhout the several views,

Figure 1 is a side e evation, partly in section, of the improved body adjuster, showing the relative arrangement of parts.

Figure 2 is a plan View of the improved body adjuster. Figures 3 and t are cross sectional views taken substantially on their respective lines in Figure 2 of the drawings. I

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only a preferred. embodiment of this invention, the letter A may generally designate the improved body adjuster which may include a frame B, having an improved adjustable head rest and body support C thereon, and improved arms supporting devices D. 1

Referring to the'main frame B, the same is preferably of metal, andincludes the longitudinally extending bar or support member 10, and the end cross member 11; said members 10 and 11 being respectively adapted to adjustably support the head rest G and arm supporting devices D. The mem- 11, 1925. Serial No. 74,876.

face in order to space the bar 11 above the saidsupporting table or surface, in the re lation illustrated in Figures land 30f the drawings. The bars 10 and 11 of the frame B are arranged at right angles to each other, and head rest C is slidable along the bar 10, longitudinally of the corpse, whereas the arm supporting devices D are adjustable transversely on the bar 11.

. Referring to the head rest C, the same is adjustable longitudinally on the bar 10, and in the main is provided to hold the head ele vated, and to adjust the chin properly to throw the same up or down with relation to the torso of the corpse. To this end the head adjuster device C includes the rack frame 20; head supporting frame 21; and pawl 22 for holding the head frame 21 elevated in any desired adj ustment with respect to the rack frame 20. i v

The rack frame 20 comprises a substantially U-shaped metal body portion 23. which includes the rack rails 2d and 25 and the transverse connecting portion 26. The rack rails 24 and 25 areprovided with series of teeth 27 uponthe upper edges thereof,

' along which the pawl 22 engages. ',At the this recessed portion is'placed a strap 32,

which is likewise recessed and provides a guide passageway 34 in whichthe longitudinal frame bar 10 .is slidably positioned, to

adjustablynioimt the head rest C upon the frame B, as is illustrated in various views of the drawing.

the side arms 35 and 36 adjustably connected at their lower ends to thepins 3O above men- The head supporting frame 21 includes outer upper ends of the supporting arms 3! out 315, the same having lttttlhlttllllillttl 1 111111 1 l11 s111u1u11t 111111 1; 11, 11111111. 111111 a l thereoi, apertural i111 receiving tle StltW threaded studs 37 t hercthrough; the latter being adapted to receive thumb nuts 4-1 and 42 as a means of clamping theears39 and in position rigid against'the outer sides of the arms and 36 so that the concavity ofthe concavo-convexhead plate 38 may be faced in a desired relation for supporting the head'or neck of the corpse, to raise or lower the chin of the corps in a' desired relation with'respect' to the torso. It'is thus apparent that the concavo -con'vezr head plate 38 is pivotal upon the screwthreaded studs or pivot pins 37, and that it'may be rigidly clamped in a desired relation with resp'ec'rt to the plane in which the arms and 36 he,

to position the head of the body in a desired relation according tothesize otthe corpse and characteristics thereof.

The pawltra'me 22 is of somewhatnovel formation, the sainepreferably being formed of wire,. a nd including the side arms and 46 pivotally connected at their ends Hand 18 respectively in thearms 85 and 36 respectively of the said frame 21 between the "ends of said arms 35 and 36. From tliis'pivotal location the arms 45 and 46 extend-rearwardly and are outturned in opposite-directions at 49 and 50 respectively, across the teeth of the frame rack rails 24 and 25, and, the portions tfi) and 50 are doubled and the arms 45 and 4:6 connectedas by means of a cross'body piece 52, as illustrated inthe drawing. The-pawl name 22 isof an integral'ciinstruction and'while the same may varyas to formation itis preferably of the shape above mentioned, and it can readily beauiderstoodthat"upon elevation of the head'franiepoi-tion 21, the pawl will'be moved along theteetlroi the rack rails 24 and 25, falling into the various teeth, in order to support the head frame 21 in'a de sired elevationfas is illustrated in Figure 1 v of the drawings. It can readily be 'under stood fromFigure 1 of the drawings that the pivotal clamping means which 'holds' the concavo-convex head plate 38 may serve as a means for varying the adjustment withrespect to the planeoii' the frame 21, to lower or elevate the head of the corpse and-properly place thechinavith respect to the chest and supported arms.

Referring to the arm supporting devices D, the same are adjustable along'each of the portions of the frame bar 11,"at opposite sides of the bar 10,and each of thesearm in tor sliding along the arm rest supporting her 11, the passageuny 61 being sufiieioutly ';11" H 1,31, I 1' i l I t t l 1111111 111 pe11111tt1111 ,111u1111111 111 1111 1111111 1111;, 1 1' u, t, H

1 1| hot 19 111 11n 1111st1111h11g 1111111111 1111; 111111 68; the attaching portion 62 and supporting arm 63 being integral and L-shaped. The iqstanding supportingarm 63 is provided witha'vertical slot 64 therein. Each of th'e arm supporting devices D includes a segmental bracket 66 ot'"concavo-convex forniation having the open socket GT t'herein for receiving the coipse arm. Integral with this socket 67 is thebracket arm 68 slidable alongthe supporting arm 63, and having a screw threaded shank 69 rigid therein transverselyextending thru the slot 6 1 of the bracket arm 63; a thumb clamping nut 70 being provide'dfor the stud 69, to hold the bracket arm 68in a desired elevation along the slotted supporting arm 63, to position thesocket 66 0f the bracket arm at a desired elevation, according to the size of the corpse.

The arm supporting devices D are of course slidable' towards'and away from each other, and towards and away from the-bar 1O,fas is illustrated in Figure 3' of the drawir'i'g, and the segmental socket portions of the bracket arms are adjustable vertically, to position'them in a desired elevation,-according to the size of the corpse.

The-head supporting device C in combination with theurm supporting devices D furnishes a bod "adjuster which is particularly well adapte' for use in thes'upporting of the arms head ofthe corpse in proper appearing relatioifiv-itlrrespect to the torso of the corpse,- and the 'fa'ct that the head and arm suppcarting de vic'es are relatively adjustable 'for various sized corpses renders the deviceofuniversalapplication for undertake'rs, and obviates the heretofore used expedieuts of. blocks, bottles, etc, for giving the body pa'rts a con rfortable appearance which the same 'ivi'll' assume when rigid, after the embalining operation.

'As is illustrated in Figure 1* of the drawii'igsthe'f-rarne "B is supported by means of the clowntuined err-tensions 15 and by means ofrivets 3'23above' the table surface, so that embtrlming fluids and other fluids may readily pass beneath the device and not" soil the device-or the corpse, and so that the table may be keptclean.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangementof parts may be made to the form of the improved -body adjuster herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the same or the scope of the claims.

1. In a body adjuster the combination of a frame, head rest means for the frame, and arm supporting devices, and means slidably mounting the same for adjustment towards and away from each other on the frame.

2. In a body adjuster for embalmers the combination of a frame, an adjustable head Supporting device slidable along the frame, adjustable arm rests, and means slidably mounting the adjustable arm rests on the frame for transverse adjustment towards and away from each other at opposite sides of the line of adjustment of the head supporting device.

3. In a body adjuster of the class described a substantially T-shaped frame including a longitudinal bar and a transverse bar connected at an end of the longitudinal bar intermediate the ends of the transverse bar, a. head supporting device slidableon the longitudinal bar, and arm supporting devices slidable along the transverse bar at each side of the longitudinal bar.

4. In a body ad uster of the class de scribed a substantially T-shaped frame including a longitudinal bar and a transverse bar connected at an end of the longitudinal bar intermediate the ends of the transverse bar, a head supporting device slidable on the longitudinal bar, arm supporting devices slidable along the transverse bar at the ends thereof, means for adjusting the height of the head rest, and means for adjusting the elevation of the arm supporting devices.

5. In a body adjuster for embalmers the combination of a substantially T-shaped frame including a longitudinal bar member,

and a transverse bar member connected between itsends in detachable manner at an end of the longitudinal bar member, a head rest, means slidably mounting the head rest on the longitudinal bar for movement toward and away from the transverse bar, means for elevating the head rest with respect to the longitudinal bar, arm supporting devices on the transverse bar at each side of the longitudinal bar slidable along the transverse bar, and means for vertically adjusting the arm supporting devices above the transverse bar.

6. In a head rest for supporting the heads of corpses the combination of a supporting frame, supporting arms pivotally connected with the supporting frame, detent means for adjustably supporting the supporting arms in a desired angular adjustment with respect to the supporting frame, a transversely extending concavo-convex head rest supported at the outer ends of said supporting arms in a pivoted relation therewith, and means for clamping the head rest in a desired plane of adjustment with respect to the plane in which said supporting arms lie.

7. In a device for supporting the heads of corpses the combination of a supporting framehaving rack .bars therealong, spaced supporting arms pivotally connected upon sald supporting frame extendingv upwardlytherefrom, pawl means pivotally connected 7 with the supporting arms and adapted for adjustable detent relation over the rack bars to hold the supporting arms in a desired elevated relation above the frame, head rest means movably connected at the outer ends of said supporting arms, and means to clamp the head rest means in a rigid angular adjustment with respect to the planeof the supporting arms. I

8. In a head rest of theclass described the combination of a supporting frame, spaced supporting arms pivotally connected at an end of each to the supporting frame,

respect to the plane of the supporting arms.

9. In an arm supporting device for corps-es the combination of a supporting frame, a pair of arm receiving brackets, and means slidably mounting the brackets on the frame for movement along the frame towards and away from each other.

10. In van arm supporting device for corpses the combination of a supporting frame, arm receiving brackets, means slidably mounting the brackets for movement along the frame towards and away from each other, and means to elevate and clamp the brackets above the. elevation.

11. In an arm supporting device for corpses the combination of a supporting frame, members slidable along the frame towards and away from each other, arm sup porting brackets, and means adjustably clamping the arm supporting brackets to said members so that the arm supporting brackets maybe adjusted above the sup. porting frame in a desired elevation and clamped thereat.

12. In an arm supporting device for holdframe at a desired ing the arms of a corpse elevated the combination of a supporting frame, a member horizontally slidable along the frame, and an arm supporting bracket adjustably connected with the member including an arm receiving socket, said arm supporting bracket being adjust-able vertically.

13, In an arm supporting device for holding the arms of a corpse elevated the co'mbination of a horizontal frame, a substantially vertical support -memher horizontally slidahle along the banan arm supporting b 'acket, and means to adjustably elamp'the bracket at a desired elevation on the support member above the frame.

14. In an arm supporting device for supporting the arms of corpses the combination of a horizontal frame support na supporting member horizontally slidable along the iramesupport having a vertical slot-therein, an arm supportingbracket including a segmental supporting portion and, a vertical portion provided with a stud adjustahly extending thru said .slot, and nut means adjustable on said stud to. clamp the arm supporting bracket in a desired elevation fvvith respect to said supporting frame.

15. In an arm support of the class described a horizontal bar, a loop provided with a passageway receiving the bar to permit the loop to slide longitudinally along: the loar an L-shaped supporting member in eluding a horizontal leg rigidly connected with the loop anda vertical portionhaving a vertical slot thereixnan arm supporting bracketincludinga segmental socket por tion and a vertical attaching portion havinga screw threaded stud thereon extending thruthe slot of the vertical portion of said supporting membenzand nut means 0n the screw threaded stud for clamping the arm supporting bracketinadesired elevationalongjthe arm of the supporting member.

16. In a body adjusting and holdingt device t'or corpses the combination of a horizontally disposed frame adapted to receive the upper part of the torso of a corpse reclining in horizontal position thereon, head supporting means adjustahly carried by said frame in a slidable relation therealong. means for adjusting the head supporting means in a vertical direction away fromthe horizontal plare of the frame tor elevating the head of the corpse to a desired degree above tlie,fli1ll1,l1l'lll supporting brackets at opposite sides of the frame, means for transversely,mounting said arm supporting brackets in substantially right angled relation with respect to the corpseat opposite sides thereof, and means for vertically adjusting the armsabove the horizontal plane of the {frame for holding the arms of the corpse elevated with respect'totheframe t a desl red 1 degree.

WILLIAM, G. BARNES. 

